Steph Deschamps / May 9, 2022
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Irpin on Sunday in the suburbs of Kiev, a city devastated by intense fighting between the Ukrainian and Russian armies before its occupation in March by the Russians, the city's mayor announced.
Justin Trudeau came to Irpin to see with his own eyes all the horrors that the Russian occupiers have done to our city, wrote Oleksander Markushin on Telegram, accompanying his message with photos taken with Mr. Trudeau in the destroyed city. Justin Trudeau's visit to Ukraine had not been announced. The Prime Minister is in Ukraine to meet with President Zelensky and reaffirm our unwavering support for the Ukrainian people, said for their part his services. Mr. Markushin, for his part, made a point of sincerely thanking the Prime Minister for the support that Canada is giving to Ukraine today. We believe in continued cooperation between our countries in the reconstruction of Ukrainian cities after our victory, he said.
Irpin, on the northwestern outskirts of Kiev, was the scene of fierce fighting between the Russians and Ukrainians in the early days of the Russian invasion in late February. The Russian army quickly took control of this city, which had a population of 60,000 before the war, and then occupied it throughout March. Justin Trudeau, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, together raised their flags at the Canadian embassy, which is expected to reopen in the coming days. The Canadian Prime Minister is scheduled to meet later with Volodymyr Zelensky. Both are scheduled to participate in a virtual G7 meeting on the situation in Ukraine.